Sacramento SPCA Stops Taking Most Strays

The organization says the number of stray animals brought to its facility has more than doubled in the past six years.

Rick Johnson with the S.P.C.A says the shelter has always accepted animals from the city and county even though it probably wasn't supposed to. He says more people will find their lost animals if the people who find them turn them into the right shelter.

"We've seen over the past four years an increase of over 2,000 dogs that are coming in from the community instead of going to the right shelter," he says. "People are bringing them to us. And that creates an overcrowding problem for us."

~Rick Johnson, Sacramento SPCA CEO

Johnson says many of the animals it has accepted should have gone to the city shelter on Front Street or the County's shelter on Bradshaw Road.

"A stray animal that comes to the S.P.C.A and should be at the City shelter means the person looking for their lost animal - they're going to go to the city shelter, find it's not there," he says. "Hopefully they'll come to the S.P.C.A., but they may not. So the proper spot is to go to the proper shelter."

Johnson says this is the first time the organization has agreed to requests from the City and County to stop taking in strays from all over the county.

People in Folsom can take animals to the Blue Ravine Animal Hospital.

Stray animals found in Rancho Cordova should still be taken to the S.P.C.A. That city contracts for services.

The S.P.C.A. will also continue to take animals surrendered by their owners regardless of where the owner lives.

Bob reports on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards. Read Full Bio